On April 25th -27th Troop 19 attended a campout that was planned by Devin Champagne at Camp Bell in the Griswold Scout Reservation.
On Friday, scouts met at the church to gather supplies needed for the campout. After packing equipment away in the trailer, they headed up
to Camp Bell and set up tents to sleep in, as well as having a snack. After a night of acceptable weather, scouts and adults woke and started
breakfast, however unlike previous campouts, scouts were allowed an hour more of sleep than normal which delighted the scouts. Afterwards
the scouts decided to hike Mt. Shannon in order to fill the time that was left open. The scouts then quickly prepared and ate lunch,
by this time it was raining relatively hard and the wind had picked up too. The evening was left open so scouts took various naps and had
instruction on how the bread making process works and what you can do to it by Mr. Howe. Dinner was prepared quickly when that time came.
After a short while, scouts were asked to head to the campfire to have a vote whether the Night Ops should actually take place; scouts
decided to not participate and instead Devin and Sam lead the two patrols through Challenge Valley. Scouts hung around the fire a bit, and
then decided they wanted to sleep and headed off to their tents. In the morning, clean up occurred and attended a church service prepared
by Spencer Richardson. Afterwards, the troop headed back to the church.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

March: Pico Mtn Ski Trip

On March 1-2, Troop 19 headed up to Pico Mountain in Vermont, which in close proximity to Killington, for their annual ski trip.
On Saturday the 1st, the troop met up at Pico because almost every scout going had a parent with them. There, Mr. Sicurella
handed out the lift tickets and rental tags. Members gradually showed up and began to ski/snowboard. At lunchtime scouts and
leaders headed back to the parking lot, where Mr. Sicurella had lunch going and served every member. Afterwards, more skiing took
place until 4pm when everyone packed up and headed to a very small congregational church, where they spent the night. For dinner,
pizza was ordered and there was an abundance of soda and desserts. Upon waking breakfast began. There were donuts, bagels, and
other things as well. Then the troop headed back to the mountain where more skiing took place. Again Mr. Sicurella had lunch going
as everyone came to the parking lot, hungry. At 4pm when the mountain was closing, the troop packed and left for home.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

February: Snowshoe Zealand Hut

On February 15-16, the experienced members of Troop 19 did a snowshoe trip up to Zealand Hut. In total about 13 miles were hiked on a trail with only cross-country skier tracks to follow. On the morning of February 15th, the scouts and leaders met at Pilgrim Church to organize and confirm who was going. Then they set out for the trailhead. Upon arrival, the troop unloaded the cars and got ready for the trek ahead. Once on the road, they had to trek some distance before even reaching the trailhead. At reaching the trailhead, there was only about 2.2 miles to go before reaching the hut. Right before the hut there was a hill, which was so steep it was nicknamed ?heartbreak hill?. Upon entering the hut, they met the caretaker, who explained what the rules were and how meals worked. After some time, other guests arrived at the hut and dinner was started. Devin Champagne carried the dinner in his pack, an enormous ham. After finishing the meal, adults played cribbage and the scout hung out in the other room with all of the bunks. After waking, breakfast was started the next morning; one of the foods at breakfast was a scrumptious coffee cake (and of course, coffee). After packing up the troop heads back down the trail to the parking lot. The next stop was a small pizza parlor where the troop enjoyed some food and civilization.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

Troop 19 Wins 2014 Klondike Derby

Eagle Knievel Patrol

On February 1st, Troop 19 participated in the highly anticipated annual Klondike Derby at Lone Pines Hunting Lodge. The night before, some scouts and adults went up for the Freeze-out. In the morning another group arrived just in time for breakfast at the OA Cafe. After a hearty meal, the patrols loaded up their sleds and prepared for the event ahead. The scoring system started straight away, with inspection. This station checked if each patrol was prepared, checking for winter clothing, mess kits, knives, rope etc. After inspection, the patrols headed out to their starting station. After the horn sounded, the Klondike had begun, and each patrol

travelled with their sled from station to station, completing the challenge that awaited them. Skills tested included knots, lashings, firebuilding, teamwork etc. By the end of the day, everyone was exhausted. Troop 19 did fantastic, placing 1st, 6th, and 11th. The Eagle Kenivals aka the Patriot Patrol, once again has returned the trophy to the Troop.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

January: Storer Campout

Planning

First Cut

Scouts & Leaders

Fresh Catch

SNOWBALL!

Bowline Knot

Ice Rescue

Sledding

On January 17th-19th, Troop 19 attended its annual Storer Campout at Camp Storer. On Friday 17th, Troop 19 gathered at Pilgrim Church and acquired necessary materials for the campout. Afterwards they headed up to Camp Storer, where they slept in a cabin. The next morning, they awoke and prepared breakfast. After cleaning up from breakfast, they headed out onto a lake that had about 18? of ice. While on the ice, they practiced ice rescues, knots, and other skills needed for the upcoming Klondike Derby. Then it started snowing and the scouts ate lunch. While the scouts where practicing skills, the adults with help from the scouts, were ice fishing and catching a total of 4 fish. After, some scouts went inside and played games, followed by the rest of the troop. Dinner started some time after, followed by dessert. The meal consisted of quesadillas that were made by the scouts, and the dessert was ice cream and various other treats. The troop, that night, either slept in the heated cabin, or went out to the summer huts for the 100 degrees below freezing achievement. In the morning , the troop cleaned up and headed back home.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

December: Practice Klondike

Klondike Sleds

Shelter Break

On December 14th, Troop 19 participated in the Practice Klondike at Camp Carpenter, an event held annually to ready up for the actual Klondike Derby. That morning the troop got whatever materials they needed and headed up to Carpenter. Upon arrival, they unloaded off the vehicles and loaded their sleds. Each patrol had a sled of their own. After being inspected, the patrols set off on the course going from station to station being tested on different skills such as fire building, knots, lashings, teamwork etc. By the end of the day the Patriot Patrol from Troop 19 came out on top. Other patrols from the troop did excellent as well.
Afterwards Troop 19 stayed overnight. Unfortunately for them
there was a very heavy snowfall that night and had to be plowed out the next day.

- Scout reporting by Spencer R.

November: Turkey Campout

On November 22nd to the 24th, Troop 19 had its annual Turkey Campout in Camp Carpenter, where they cook turkeys in cardboard boxes and have an abundance of different food from both the patrols and the adults. On Friday, the scouts gathered camping supplies and loaded them into the trailer. After that, they headed up to Carpenter and setup their tents, rain flies, etc. Then everyone had cracker barrel and went to bed.
After waking up, they started breakfast and fixed some boxes that needed repair. Afterwards, they had flags and a very informative round robin that included pie making, fire building, and making survival bracelets. Immediately following that the preparation of the feast began. Everyone was hard at work at creating interesting foods for the meal to follow.
After preparation the attendees including scouts, adults, and visiting parents, sat down for the feast. Then grace was said, and the first group went up for dinner, followed by others. After dinner was served, they went up again for dessert. After the meal was over cleanup was in order.
Afterwards the troop had a Capture-the-Flag game with a neighboring campsite, followed by bed. That night it snowed and it was a very cold morning. The troops then packed the trailer and headed back to the church.

- Scout Reporting by Spencer R.

Cookout Campsite

Gotta Do Cleanup

October: Wilderness Survival Campout

On October 18-20, Troop 19 attended their annual Wilderness Survival Campout at Camp Whip-O-Will. At this campout, Troop 19 builds shelters and sleeps in them for the night. It began on Friday when they loaded up the trailer with camping gear and headed out to the camp. Upon arrival, the scouts unloaded the trailer and set up tents. After cracker barrel, they headed to bed.
Upon waking up, they started fires and breakfast. Afterwards there was some teachings and an orientation course. Then they had lunch and began to construct their shelters. Then they prepared and consumed dinner. One patrol had a visit from a local dog when they were eating dinner. After they went to bed and in the morning they had a quick breakfast and loaded the trailer. After that they headed back to the church.

On August 27- 29, Troop 19 travelled to Camp Carpenter for their annual Pioneering Campout. A decent number
of scouts attended. The trip started at approximately 5:45 at Pilgrim Church when the scouts loaded the
equipment trailer with gear such as lamps, stoves, Dutch ovens, and tables. Afterwards, they set out for
Camp Carpenter where Pack 19 had arrived earlier, and quickly set up tents. Then they had cracker barrel and
went to sleep relatively early.
The next day they awakened and set to the task of breakfast; after finishing cleanup they had flags
and began building a playground out of spars and rope to boost recruitment from the pack that whom would be
arriving later. About half of the way through construction, the scouts had lunch and went right back to work.
Almost immediately after the finishing of the playground which consisted of monkey bars, a see-saw, a swing,
and a hand-pulled elevator attached to a elevated platform, the pack arrived. The pack split into 2 groups,
one would attend the playground, and the other would learn various knots.
After a while the pack returned
to their site and the scouts started dinner. After dinner the scouts walked to the pack?s site to attend a
blazing campfire with many skits and songs put on by both the pack and troop. After a long day the troop
returned to their site and went to bed. In the morning there was an all-faith service in the chapel with
the pack and afterwards, the troop departed.

- Spencer R.

St Croix & Acadia Trip

This Summer, Troop 19 had a high-adventure canoeing and sailing trip. We
canoed and camped our way along the St. Croix river for week in late June. Then we joined
others from our Troop at Acadia National Park for camping, a Windjammer Cruise and a planned Bicycle Adventure.
Thanks to Mr. Anthony and the other attending Leaders for organizing and arranging these events.
They were a blast. Thanks also to Mr. R. Wiik for the above pictures (be sure to 'click' to zoom in).
Check out Mr. Guertin's recounting of the trip and all the fun
here.

Canoeing Mine Falls - Nashua, NH

In preparation for a long canoe trip planned for Acadia later this month, Troop 19
Scouts and Leaders took in a day of canoeing on the Nashua River. We put in at the city's
well kept boat ramp near Stellos Stadium with 8+ canoes. It was a fine sunny day for skills
practice and just being on the water.
Thanks to Mr. Guertin and Mr. Griffith for organizing this event and arranging for
canoes. Thanks also to Mr. R. Wiik for the above pictures (be sure to 'click' to zoom in).